- 9 minutes ago
Some TV deaths leave fans heartbroken — others leave them absolutely furious. Join us as we count down the most controversial character deaths in television history that sparked massive fan outrage! Our countdown includes deaths from "The 100", "How I Met Your Mother", "Game of Thrones", "The Walking Dead", and more! Which TV death upset you the most? Let us know in the comments below!
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:08Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 20 TV deaths that caused outrage among
00:14fans.
00:15Animated series will be excluded, and consider this your spoiler alert.
00:36What could be more heartbreaking than this? Matthew Crawley survived the war, finally got his happy ending with Mary, welcomed
00:43his newborn, only to die suddenly on Christmas Day.
00:50That's about as cruel as TV gets, and Downton Abbey fans weren't having it.
00:54The backlash that followed was intense. Many felt betrayed after tuning in for warmth and comfort, only to be hit
01:00like a ton of bricks.
01:02Dan Stevens, who played Matthew, later apologized for the devastation, though his decision to leave the show ultimately sealed his
01:08character's fate.
01:09But then, we don't always get our just desserts.
01:12Julian Fellows even admitted how painful it was to right Matthew's death, while insisting it was inevitable.
01:17It didn't just ruin Christmas for many, it also became one of TV's most traumatizing deaths.
01:22Number 19. Poussey, Washington. Orange is the New Black.
01:27We should probably worry about finding an apartment first.
01:31I'm gonna need jobs.
01:34We'll just search jobs for former inmates on the interweb.
01:38You know, piece of cake, I'll just shovel shit and you'll dig graves.
01:46Why don't you tell me more about these fish, yeah?
01:48We all know Poussey Washington deserved a better ending than she got.
01:51While she dreamed of a life of freedom, her life was sadly cut short during a protest.
01:56What made it so heartbreaking was how this fan-favorite's death played out.
02:00I came to ask about, look, I still got some time left here, but I'm getting out eventually, and it
02:06feels like it's time to start focusing on that.
02:08Of course, the moment was meant to reflect real-life issues about police brutality, yet that intent did little to
02:14soften the blow.
02:15Also, livid fans spoke out about how unfair it was that Poussey had to be sacrificed to teach a lesson.
02:20Even so, her death sparked conversations about racial injustice and abuse of power, but that didn't make it easier to
02:27accept.
02:28Number 18.
02:29Laurel Lance.
02:30Arrow.
02:31Talk about a colossal waste of a great character.
02:33Laurel Lance had so much to offer on Arrow, yet the writers consistently mishandled her.
02:38From her complicated history with Oliver, struggle with substance use disorder, and evolution into Black Canary, Laurel was far more
02:45than just a love interest.
02:46Did that stop the show from killing her in a narratively hollow and anticlimactic way?
02:50Not at all.
02:51Characters far less compelling received meaningful send-offs, while Laurel's death felt abrupt and oddly staged.
02:57Let her go.
02:58What?
02:58I need you to let her go so I can do my job.
03:02Now leave!
03:03Fans were quick to voice their anger, arguing that she was killed because the writers didn't know what to do
03:07with her.
03:08Honestly, it seems so.
03:09It remains one of Arrow's most frustrating missteps, a betrayal fans never truly forgave.
03:15Number 17.
03:16Love Quinn.
03:17You.
03:17Joe and Love's romance was doomed from the start, but at least she was his match.
03:21With her, Joe couldn't control the narrative, and that made her more dangerous than anyone he'd ever faced.
03:27You don't have to worry.
03:30This time I'm letting it.
03:33Absorbed through the skin.
03:34But since the show belonged to Joe, the writers chose to kill Love in one of the series' most heartbreaking
03:39turns.
03:40For such a compelling character, her death was both shocking and deeply sad.
03:44Some fans openly wished Joe had died instead, struggling to accept her fate.
03:48Even in later seasons, her absence was impossible to ignore, with many expressing how much they missed her.
03:54She was indeed a narrative spice that made the show all the more intriguing.
03:58Sadly, she had to die to keep Joe's story going.
04:01Love's farewell filled out details a burned-out crime scene couldn't.
04:04The rest of Joe Goldberg's body was never found, but it was presumed a butcher or worse.
04:10Love Quinn became the Mrs. Lovett of Marjorie Linda.
04:13Number 16.
04:14Carl Grimes.
04:16The Walking Dead.
04:23When it comes to delivering senseless and traumatic deaths for beloved characters, The Walking Dead takes the crown.
04:29Carl Grimes' death is the poster child for deaths which burn audiences.
04:33We watched him grow from a scared child into a hardened, compassionate survivor.
04:37He was meant to be the future of the show, Rick's eventual successor.
04:40Instead, the writers stripped Rick's core motivation by killing his son in a most pointless twist.
04:46Carl didn't even get a heroic showdown.
04:48He died from a bite from a walker and was forced to shoot himself.
04:52What a deeply frustrating ending.
04:53Despite explanations from showrunners, Carl's death is seen as one of the show's biggest mistakes to this day.
04:59I'm sorry.
05:00I couldn't protect you.
05:02Number 15.
05:03Opie Winston.
05:04Sons of Anarchy.
05:05Years later, Opie Winston's death still stings.
05:09If anyone deserved a peaceful ending, it was this sad character.
05:13His life was tragedy after tragedy.
05:15He lost his wife, his sense of purpose, and he was constantly pulled back to his gang.
05:20The way his death played out didn't help matters.
05:23What are you going to do?
05:30Pick the guy.
05:31While in prison, Opie chose to sacrifice himself to save his brothers.
05:35Brutally beaten to death, his brothers watched him die, powerless to save him.
05:40Michael.
05:41No.
05:42No.
05:43No.
05:44Honestly, it was emotionally exhausting, and fans weren't just deeply affected.
05:49They were livid.
05:50It honestly felt Opie was being punished, which was too much for someone who had already suffered enough.
05:55For many fans, it remains one of the most upsetting deaths television has ever delivered.
05:59Number 14.
06:00Charlie Pace.
06:02Lost.
06:03For much of his time on the island, Charlie Pace was reckless and off-putting.
06:07Yet, he had some qualities that made viewers root for him.
06:10What's the code?
06:11Go away.
06:12Bunny, let's just get this over with, okay?
06:14What's the code?
06:15She's not going to tell you, brother.
06:16Yeah, she's going to tell me.
06:17What makes you say that?
06:18Because you said it's my destiny to turn off that jammer.
06:20By season three, the show transformed this deeply flawed character into a selfless hero.
06:25After realizing the boat they'd been waiting for wasn't pennies,
06:28Charlie sent others a message at the expense of his life.
06:31How noble indeed.
06:32While the writers were clearly crafting a redemption arc, his death felt jarring and strangely avoidable.
06:37It left many viewers wondering if he couldn't have escaped, or at least died in a better way.
06:42Was his death really necessary, or did the writers run out of ideas for him?
06:45These questions continue to trouble fans even today.
06:53Number 13, Eddie Munson, Stranger Things.
06:57Even though he didn't have a long run on Stranger Things, Eddie Munson quickly became a fan favorite.
07:02Introduced as the charismatic, misunderstood meathead, he ultimately died a hero.
07:06Eddie, what are you doing?
07:10Goodbye more time.
07:11At this point, fans were already too invested and completely shattered by his gruesome end.
07:17Many took to social media, expressing their disbelief and slamming the Duffer brothers for killing off a lovable character so
07:23soon.
07:24Some even started petitions demanding that Eddie be brought back.
07:26Overall, the reaction from his death was huge.
07:30Memes, tributes, and heartfelt posts flooded social media, making it pretty obvious how much of an impact Eddie left in
07:36such a short time.
07:37His death still stands as one of TV's most gut-wrenching and unforgettable losses.
07:43I think it's my year, Anderson.
07:47I think it's finally my year.
07:50Number 12, Marissa Cooper, The O.C.
07:53I know, that's what I thought.
07:54We can't say Marissa Cooper was without flaws, but did the character ever catch a break?
07:59From struggles with substance use disorder, toxic relationships, and constant upheaval, her life was pretty sad.
08:06Yet, the show's creators added to that misery by killing her off just as she was about to leave town.
08:12Fans weren't upset simply because they loved Marissa, but because her death felt pointless.
08:16Many felt it crossed from tragic to cruel.
08:19Over time, even the creators admitted regret over the decision.
08:22Still, it didn't come out of nowhere.
08:24Marissa.
08:29Marissa.
08:29The network wanted a jaw-dropping moment, and Misha Barton was ready to leave the series.
08:34The result?
08:35A death that left a lasting ache, and a fandom that never fully forgave it.
08:39Make your life, it's a bad dream.
08:43Go on, on my side.
08:46I was fine.
08:48Number 11, Debra Morgan, Dexter.
08:51With Debra's death, we have to ask, what was the reason?
08:54Was she just collateral damage?
08:56Sacrifice to make viewers turn on Dexter one more time?
08:59A final statement that Dexter didn't deserve peace or redemption after everything he'd done?
09:04To make that point, the show chose Debra, the same character who had already suffered enough, and deserved so much
09:10better.
09:10Let's not even get started on Rita Morgan's death, used in a similar way to push Dexter further into darkness.
09:28But Debra's felt worse, cruel, needless, and brutal.
09:33Having Dexter unplug her life support, and dumping her in the ocean like one of his victims?
09:37I love you, Debra.
09:44For many, that moment marked the instant Dexter crossed the line, and never fully recovered.
09:50Number 10, Derek Shepard, Grey's Anatomy.
09:53From the opening moments of the pilot, Meredith and the cheekily nicknamed McDreamy always felt destined for love.
09:59Their romance felt almost as integral to the series as the hospital itself,
10:03but the internet had a collective meltdown when Derek met his maker after 11 seasons in a hasty car accident.
10:13Fans were always going to be displeased with the idea of Dr. Shepard getting a tragic and sudden exit.
10:18However, what really upset them was seeing Meredith herself pull him off life support.
10:23No.
10:24But go ahead.
10:33Forcing the burden of ending Shepard's life on a character that has frankly seen enough tragedy for a dozen lifetimes
10:39was too much.
10:40Some fans were ready to walk away from the hospital after his demise.
10:48Number 9, Dan Conner, Roseanne.
10:51While the final season of this popular sitcom left fans disappointed in more ways than one,
10:55the shocking fate of The Conner Patriarch was the most poorly received plot point.
11:00In the finale of the ninth season, Roseanne reveals she fabricated a good portion of the story we've been following.
11:05So, in my writing, I did what any good mother would do.
11:09I fixed it.
11:10She glanced over events like Dan's fatal heart attack at Darlene's wedding because she couldn't cope with it.
11:15Not allowing fans to say a proper goodbye to one of the show's lead characters left many feeling justifiably cheated.
11:22In fact, public disproval proved so powerful that the show treated it like he never died in the tenth season.
11:27Bringing John Goodman back to his rightful role as Dan finally corrected season 9's biggest misstep.
11:33What happened?
11:34I thought you were dead.
11:35Number 8, Adriana LaServa, The Sopranos.
11:39Rule number one of character deaths.
11:41If you don't see the body, there's always a chance for a return from beyond the grave.
11:44Fans clung to this rule when the ambitious Adriana's double life as an FBI informant finally caught up to her.
11:50She set you up.
11:51She was an FBI agent, Christopher.
11:54After realizing her fiancé was clued into who she was, audiences got a downright agonizing slow car ride.
12:00It culminated with Adriana being shot off screen.
12:07This heartbreaking demise had fans clamoring for a miracle that never came.
12:11Her non-traditional end left some members of the audience completely crushed.
12:16Adriana's hard-to-watch end solidified that anyone could die on this show.
12:20I can't stand the pain.
12:22I love dark.
12:24Number 7, Beth Green, The Walking Dead.
12:27Since the zombie apocalypse series is no stranger to offing main characters, fans are always ready to watch someone go.
12:32But most of the real controversy of Beth's exploration didn't exactly come from the scene itself.
12:38I get it now.
12:44Although fans were upset that her great season 5 character development was cut short,
12:48the real fan anger came from a huge social media mistake.
12:52After Beth's death was seen on the East Coast, her fate was posted on the official AMC Facebook.
12:56But the episode hadn't actually aired yet in other parts of the U.S.
13:00Although the imagery was taken down after a few minutes, the damage was already done.
13:04This spoiler made it already hard to watch death, even worse for a huge number of fans.
13:09It's over!
13:12It was just about her.
13:14Number 6, Colonel Blake, MASH.
13:17According to several reports, Colonel Blake's demise was the first time in American television history
13:22that a comedy series lead was written off in a tragic manner.
13:25If you believe yourself or I'm gonna come back and kick your butt.
13:28When Andrew McLean-Stevenson asked to be written out of the mega-hit series,
13:31the character was discharged and sent home.
13:33But the other characters later received a message that Blake's plane had been shot down.
13:37Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake's plane
13:44was shot down.
13:45This poignant yet tragic ending caused CBS to receive over a thousand angry letters from fans
13:51who were upset to get such upsetting news in the self-proclaimed comedy series.
13:55The reaction proved so intense that CBS ended up removing the scene,
13:59confirming his end from initial reruns.
14:01While Blake's fate is much more optimistic in that edit, the truth is still bleak.
14:05MASH 4077 bids Henry Blake a reluctant and affectionate farewell.
14:11Number 5, Shereen Baratheon, Game of Thrones.
14:14While this grand tale of dragons and conquest routinely pushed the envelope,
14:18the loss of this innocent grayscale Baratheon was simply a step too far for some.
14:23It's all right, father.
14:26You don't even know what I'm talking about.
14:28In a desperate attempt to guarantee future victory,
14:31Stannis Baratheon agrees to sacrifice his own daughter.
14:34This abysmal action especially hurt,
14:36because Shereen was a gentle soul that was guilty of not one single crime.
14:40Mother, please!
14:43Mother, please!
14:45Mother!
14:45Mother!
14:46I can't.
14:47There's no other way.
14:48She has King's blood.
14:49Many fans felt like Stannis would never sink this low,
14:52and to make matters worse,
14:53the method of her end was horribly drawn out.
14:56This unnecessarily gross and brutal end
14:58assassinated Stannis' integrity,
15:01and had many viewers crying out against Shereen's dismal fate.
15:11Number four, Tara MacLeigh, Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
15:15At a time when positive depictions of LGBTQ plus couples on the small screen were hard to find,
15:20this teen gothic series drew praise for its nuanced portrayal of Willow's and Tara's romance.
15:25Better not get used to them.
15:28Yes, ma'am.
15:32However, the happy couple was ripped apart
15:34due to Tara's abrupt and unearned death to a stray bullet.
15:38It was bad enough that this moment wrecked a landmark of representation for television,
15:41but it got worse when this event caused the show's remaining prominent LGBTQ plus character
15:46to become a villain for the rest of the season.
15:49Fans who finally felt like they saw themselves portrayed on screen
15:52were left fuming as all the positivity from this storyline evaporated in an instant.
15:57No!
15:57Oh, please, ma'am.
16:01Number three, Will Gardner, The Good Wife.
16:04Even in a show known for its white-knuckled plot twists and nail-biting cliffhangers,
16:09no one could have predicted this event.
16:10In a shocking turn, lead character Will Gardner is suddenly shot in a courtroom.
16:17His abrupt demise at the end of an innocuous episode
16:20left fans wondering how the show could possibly handle all his unresolved relationships
16:25and storylines going forward.
16:27Will!
16:31Paramedics!
16:32Co-creators Robert and Michelle King released a statement immediately after the episode aired
16:36to explain their reasoning behind Will's drastic exit to grieving fans,
16:40but this move didn't make this pill any easier to swallow.
16:43In the end, many viewers believe that the show never fully recovered
16:46from the unsatisfying end of the male half of Lockhart and Gardner.
16:50No!
16:56Number two, Tracy, How I Met Your Mother.
16:59If you looked up the most polarizing television finales of all time,
17:03this defining sitcom would definitely come up.
17:05During the show's nine seasons, fans have been waiting to figure out
17:08who the mother mentioned in the show's title was.
17:11They were satisfied when Kristen Milioti's Tracy was revealed as the matriarch.
17:15I have to love this woman as much as I can, for as long as I can,
17:20and I can never stop loving her, not even for a second.
17:23But despite her undeniable chemistry with leading man Josh Radner,
17:26a couple lines of dialogue and a quick scene confirmed that the character passed away.
17:31Even then, in what can only be called the worst of times, all I could do was thank God.
17:36In the end, the long-awaited character ended up feeling like a cheap plot device
17:40to add an emotional gut punch in Ted's story.
17:42The events of the entire series were cheapened in the eyes of longtime fans due to Tracy's fate.
17:48And that, kids, is how I met your mother.
17:51Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel
17:53and ring the bell to get notified about our latest videos.
17:56You have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them.
18:00If you're on your phone, make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications.
18:06Number one, Lexa, The 100.
18:10Since they led warring clans, Lexa and Clark's relationship was captivating for the story.
18:14It also was another great milestone for LGBTQ plus representation in the genre.
18:27Unfortunately, all that praise quickly turned to vitriol.
18:31Shortly after the two officially got together, Lexa was fatally wounded by a stray bullet.
18:40Viewers were up in arms that the industry seemed to still be sticking to the harmful tendency
18:44to kill off LGBTQ plus characters.
18:47The wave of criticism was so severe that the showrunner openly apologized for how the story
18:52played out.
18:53But at the end of the day, it was impossible for fans to accept this sudden and unearned loss.
18:58It's a shame that one of television's greatest couples couldn't end on a better note.
19:02I don't want the next commander.
19:08I want you.
19:10Which TV death annoys you the most?
19:12Let us know in the comments section.
Comments